Big Brother Red Light Ticket

[black roadster]

So I got a nice little letter in the mail from the City of Richardson. They say I ran a red light when actually it appears the driver in question was turning right on red at this intersection.

Anyways, I sent the following letter in response. Do you think it will work?

To Whom it May Concern,

I received a letter claiming I committed a violation of a red light law in the City of Richardson on XX/XX/2014. As per the instructions, I am writing to plead 'not guilty' to this charge. Although this option is said to result in this matter going to court; it is my suggestion that the charges simply be dropped. This suggestion comes out of respect for tax payers, and my request that their hard earned money not be wasted in such proceedings. As there is no evidence of my involvement with this alleged 'crime', as well as the fact that I am not granted my 6th amendment right to face my 'accuser' (a camera); I see no way the government could prove my guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. I also find no legal requirement for me to implicate someone else in this process, as it is the government's responsibility to prove a person's guilt. It is also my 5th amendment right to remain silent on the matter.
If it is the government's decision to move forward in this matter, I would request copies of any evidence the prosecution may have of my involvement in the "offense"; as well as, all maintenance records for the camera(s) involved.

[goofygrin]

Good luck with all that. Those are revenue generation machines run by a 3rd party with civil penalties, not criminal (hence no points).

[Mr. Miatie]

You have no obligation to write them a letter, pay a fine or appear in court for this matter.

I use to handle the camera tickets for Carey Limousine. With 63 vehicles on the road daily there was no shortage of tickets in the mail. Our team of lawyers plus the DA and a few others down town explained to me that because of the reasons you listed in your letter plus the cameras are leased from a third party and are not maintained or "calibrated" as they called it, its a cake walk to get around them. There is also the point that unless you have a shirt with picture name tag and you lean into the windshield for a clear pic, no one can place you at the scene.

It plays on the fact that most people are too lazy and just send in the money. It's soo convenient to take care of it online!!

[S2K_MoZo]

I tried to fight one and I didn't get anywhere. By the time I realized it's useless, they raised the fine to $100. It was pretty nice to see the S2000 take a fast right turn on their video over and over

[mtrx804]

Ive had one. I don't think you can really win, depends how the judge feels that day.

It was a rolling stop on a steep hill, in a Miata where speedo didn't even register me moving rolling stop.

[chriscar]

Does it really say that YOU ran the red light, or just that the car was observed running it? In NY, it's the car, the ticket goes to the owner, and it's just a fine, with no points.

There's a long discussion here, including a letter very similar to yours.
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/off...camera-ticket/

C

[tailchaser]

Have you read up on how to legally turn right on red yet?

[Keifersmith]

I give it about as good of odds of working as this letter....

[Keifersmith]

"They say I ran a red light when actually it appears the driver in question was turning right on red at this intersection."... I'm assuming that this mystery "driver in question" was in fact driving your car? As Chriscar pointed out the ticket is issued to the owner of the car and it is a civil fine.

By the letter of the law I believe if the car in question didn't come to a complete stop behind the Stop Lines before turning right then they can write the car owner up. Had a situation several years ago where a guy test driving a car I was selling did a very slow rolling right turn on red at an intersect and I got a ticket in the mail several weeks later. I did get out of it but only because I filed that I had sold the car that day and gave them the "new owners" name and address. And no, I didn't rat him out. I talked to him about it first and he told me to do it. He lived in Colorado and out of the states jurisdiction so there was nothing Texas could do about it since they couldn't put a hold on his car title by labeling him a Scofflaw.

[OZMDD]

I fought one, was denied, and still never paid it. Nothing has ever come of it, 5-6 years later.

[POS Racing]

I fought one, was denied, and still never paid it. Nothing has ever come of it, 5-6 years later.

What city was that and do they offer a reward??

[whoswatchingme]

This is ONE reason I pay $26/month to Pre-Paid Legal, now Legal Shield, in the least they can get you defensive driving every time and keep it off your record, provided you don't have a commercial license. When I first heard about the company, about nine years ago, I thought it was a scam but it has saved me a lot of headaches and money for legal advice when dealing with not at fault car accidents, custody for my niece and niece, TXU trying to keep my wife obligated to a contract that wasn't legally binding and several other legal issues life threw at me.

[OZMDD]

Def driving isn't an option for a red light ticket, as it isn't a criminal case. I've never had any trouble getting DD or even deferred adjudication without an attorney. If pre-paid legal works for you, then cool, but I wouldn't want to spend $300/year for it.

[whoswatchingme]

Criminal case? We are talking traffic violations and running a red light is a moving violation, so thus defensive driving is an option depending on your situation(CDL, taken DD in the past year), judge, etc. See DMV site:
"MOVING VS. NON-MOVING VIOLATIONS

Violations are also classified by whether or not the vehicle was in motion at the type of the incident, and traffic tickets may therefore be for either moving or non-moving violations. Examples of moving violations include:

• Speeding or driving below the minimum speed
• Running a stop sign or red light
• Driving without a seat belt
• Drunk driving (DUI and DWI)

Non-Moving violations include:

• Parking in a handicapped zone or other illegal parking
• Driving with an invalid vehicle registration
• Having expired or missing license plates
• Leaving a vehicle unattended and running"
  
  http://www.dmv.com/tx/texas/traffic-tickets
  
  Good for you as well but once again using it for traffic tickets hasn't made it worth it but everything else I have used it for, I'm not here to make anyone a "believer" in anything just stating my experience.

[OZMDD]

Yes, but since it is not considered admissible evidence in TX, red-light camera tickets are treated as civil penalties. Try asking for def driving when you get one. Not an option, as you can't dismiss a criminal complaint that doesn't exist.

[whoswatchingme]

Hummmm......

[Labora]

So I got a nice little letter in the mail from the City of Richardson. They say I ran a red light when actually it appears the driver in question was turning right on red at this intersection.

Anyways, I sent the following letter in response. Do you think it will work?

Good luck let us know how it turns out. I've read the story from the guy where you got your form letter from. (It worked for him for those who don't know.)

I fought one, was denied, and still never paid it. Nothing has ever come of it, 5-6 years later.

Do you know if it hit your credit?


Since I've moved into my home a redlight camera has been added on my daily route. I make sure to sit at it for alteast 4 sec on right turn reds.

[black roadster]

My wife got one in Denton and they would renew her registration until it was paid. Crooks!

[VFR750]

It's just government looking out for us................